Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (20 page)

His gentle mother could be as fierce as a warrior when
it concerned her children.

“She will nae be going back to England,” he stated
with a smile.

“I expected as much.”

“Gavin plans to marry the lass, but I doubt she is
aware of his intentions.”

She kissed his forehead, then turned to Bowen and
said, “Take Paen to the hall and tell him about Sir James.”

Paen went to shake Bowen’s hand, but was immediately
pulled into a bear hug and lifted off his feet. Bowen had always been like a
father to him, his brothers and sister and always protected them against the
abuse of the former laird, their sire. He had never married or had any
children, because he had always been in love with Lady Esme, with whom nine
years ago he wed. At two score and five years, he was still a powerful warrior
and a legend among the Macleods, due to his enormous size and skill in battle.

“It is good to see ye, son,” Bowen said as he released
him, and then clapped him hard on the back. “There is much to discuss afore ye,
Gavin and the rest of the guard meet with Sir James.”

Paen went with him to the hall, eager to hear about
the man that risked his life to save Gabriel, while Lady Esme wasted no time
getting Maeve, Osgood’s wife, and rushing to Gavin’s chamber.

Lady Ella had been placed on the laird’s bed when the
two very concerned women entered the chamber. With a smile on her face, Lady
Esme watched for a moment how gentle her oldest son was with the young woman
whose bedraggled boy’s attire and matted clumps of hair could not hid the
beauty that lay underneath.

“Little one, ‘tis time to wake,” Gavin said as he caressed
her face. “We must get ye in a bath and fed before ye can enjoy the comfort of
this large bed.”

As soon as she opened her eyes and saw Gavin, she
smiled knowing that if he was here, she was safe. When he assisted her to sit,
she then noticed the enormous size of the bedchamber she was in as well as its
lavish furniture.

The numerous scone torches that ran along the white
washed walls, illuminated the chamber in a soft, warm glow. The double arched
windows on the far wall had cushioned benches underneath, along with two large
wooden chests. There was a large stone hearth with two long, narrow tapestries
running from ceiling to floor. The chamber door was to her right, along with a
table and two winged back chairs. Turning her head, she noticed that two small
wooden tables were on either side of the large bed. Ella looked down as she ran
her hands over the rich quality of the dark blue bed covering and wondered if
she was dreaming.

Crouched in front of her, Gavin put his hands on the
outside of her thighs and watched her survey the unfamiliar surroundings. There
was trust in her eyes when she finally met his gaze. When she gave him a shy
smile, his need to kiss her was fierce, but dampened by the presence of his
mother and Maeve.

Shifting his body so he could wrap his arm around
Ella’s waist, Gavin turned to look at the women lingering in the doorway. With
pride he said, “Mother, Maeve, this is Lady Ella.”

Turning back around, he continued, “Ella, I would like
to introduce ye to my mother, Lady Esme, and to Osgood’s wife, Maeve. They will
see that ye are bathed and fed.”

Ella’s eyes widened in fear. She did not want anyone
to see her naked, so she graciously declined the offer.

“Thank you, Gavin, but I’m sure that they would rather
spend this time with their family.”

Lady Esme heard the tremble in her voice and knew its
origin. She pushed her son out of the way, sat next to the frightened lass, and
then gently took hold of her hand.

“There are nae words that can express my eternal
gratitude to ye, Lady Ella. Ye risked yer life to save my grandson as well as
my sons. To me, ye are an angel, one who will forever have my undying love and
respect. And Maeve and I would verra much like to care for ye now, if ye will
allow us.”

Gavin thought the smile Ella bestowed upon him at that
moment could have put the sun to shame. Before taking his leave, he stroked her
hair and kissed her forehead as he said, “They will take good care of ye,
little one. I will check on ye later this eve.” He only got as far as the door
when she called out to him.

“Gabriel and Sir James are both here and well?”

“Aye, but since ‘tis late and they are asleep.”

“Thank you.”

Gavin winked at her, then departed, leaving her with
his mother and Maeve.

Ella immediately noticed that Lady Esme’s crystal blue
eyes were identical to her children's eyes. She was half a head taller than
herself and looked to be at least two score in age. Her chestnut hair showed no
grey, and her slender figure showed no signs of childbirth.

Maeve was close to her own height, Ella thought, and
looked to about a score and five years. She had soft gray eyes and auburn hair
that curled down her back. She also had a voluptuous figure that would appeal
to any man.

Maeve approached with a smile and took beside the
younger woman. “As Gavin said, I am married to Osgood, that big redheaded oaf
ye journeyed here with.”

Gently pushing Ella’s hair away from her face, Maeve
continued, “I ken men dinna believe that women should fight in battle, but I am
grateful ye dinna heed such rubbish. I would have done the same, fought to
protect their backs, even if ordered to do otherwise. And when the battle was
over, I would have told my husband how lucky he is to have me for his beloved
wife.”

All three women burst into laughter at Maeve’s audacious
comment, which instantly made the atmosphere more comfortable.

“He spoke of how much he missed his beautiful wife,”
Ella said. “I can see now why he loves you, and considers himself blessed
beyond measure.”

Maeve blushed at the sweet lass and gave her hand an
affectionate squeezed. She was truly touched by her kind words, but she and
Lady Esme were there to care for the lass, not chatter about the men.

Turning to Lady Esme, she said, “While ye get the lass
undressed and I’ll fill the tub with the steaming water the servants left by
the fire.”

She nodded, and then turned to Ella. “If ye would
stand, I will help ye remove yer garments.”

Ella soon stood completely nude, with the exception of
the linen wrapped around her upper body. When the kind women began unraveling
the bandage, she bit her bottom lip, preparing herself for their horrified
reaction. Her back had been whipped bloody and cauterized black, and she knew
it would not be a pretty sight.

After pulling the linen away from Ella’s slender body
and seeing what she had endured for Gabriel, fierce protectiveness surged
through Lady Esme, along with a desire so great to kill the ones responsible.
They
will pay for the brutality done to my angel.

Maeve eyes widened when she saw the ten angry lash
marks that ran from shoulder to just above her buttock, marring the once
flawless skin. So taken back was she by Ella’s courage and selfless sacrifice,
she was forced to halt the flood of tears that threatened to fall.

While assisting the young woman into a steaming bath,
she searched for comforting words that would break the unbearable silence.

“With time and care we will mend yer wounds, but ken
this, it dinna take away from yer beauty.”

Ella gave Maeve a small smile of gratitude, and then
bowed her head. She’d never been one to be overly concerned with her
appearance. Nevertheless, she was thankful she was unable to see the damage
done to her body.

When Lady Esme saw her crestfallen look, she
immediately lowered herself onto the stool beside the tub, and said, “Forgive
my silence.”

Turning to Gavin’s mother, Ella stated, “You have done
naught wrong.”

Lady Esme shook her head as she began washing the
filth from the girl. She did not make eye contact as she revealed the painful
truth. “If it pleases ye, I would like to tell ye about our family. ‘Tis nae a
happy tale, but it is one I believe ye should hear.”

“Please, I would like to hear all,” Ella replied.

“Almost a decade ago, Gavin went to England to bring
back Paen, who we discovered was fostering with an English baron. My first
husband, Laird William Macleod, was a vindictive man, who believed the harder
the childhood, the stronger the man. Because of William’s many past digressions
against England, he was ordered to foster one of his son’s with the English
until his eighteenth year. My husband decided to foster Paen, his only
bastard.”

“Before giving Paen over, William mocked the King of
England, informed him that nae son of his would be broken by a Englishman. The
king gave Paen to Harold Moreland, Baron of Montgomery.”

Ella gasped at the revelation that Paen fostered with
her betrothed’s father and listened intently as Lady Esme continued.

“Aye, that man’s evil and malicious ways were well
known and not embellished. In my heart, Paen has always been my son, and he was
tortured for his father’s arrogance. He was beaten daily by Harold and his son,
Roger, as well as the knights who fought under the Montgomery banner.”

“Paen was not the only boy to be fostered by
Montgomery, but because he was a Scot, he was treated worst than the others.
During his five years at Montgomery, he befriended Nicholas, who had learned
from his mother how to tend broken bones, reduce fever, stitch open wounds and
cauterize lacerations. Nicholas’s father wanted an alliance with the
Montgomery’s, but in the end he lost his son along with any hope for an
alliance.”

Ella was stunned that both Paen and Nicholas had
fostered at Montgomery, but hearing that Roger, her betrothed, had abused them
so cruelly made her heartsick.

“When Gavin saw what had been done to his brother, he
killed Harold Montgomery. He then offered Nicholas a position of honor among
our clan for his show of loyalty and integrity.”

Ella was so absorbed in Lady Esme words, she was
startled when Maeve vigorously washed and rinsed her hair. Within moments, the
meticulous women had her dry and her lower body wrapped in linen. They
proceeded to move her to the fire, and began then began applying the healing
salve to her back.

“I learned the truth only an hour afore they rode
through the gates,” Lady Esme began. “I attacked my husband with a dagger,
intending to kill the man who laughed when told of how his son had been
treated.” She paused, undecided if she should tell the young woman the entire
story.

“Lady Esme, if it pleases you, I would hear the rest.”

Lady Esme knew of her eldest son’s intention to marry
Lady Ella, and felt the young lass had a right to know what befell the family
she would enter into.

“I was nae match for his strength, and was beaten
until I lay unconscious on the hall floor. I learned later that my daughter
Eva, who was only thirteen summers, had tried to protect me by stabbing her
father with a dagger. Alas, the wound she inflicted was not moral.”

Silent tears fell as the older woman went on. “He beat
her until she was unrecognizable, and then threw her down the stone stairs that
run from the keep to the bailey. Her leg, arm and two ribs were broken. Seeing
this, Gavin, Paen and Bowen went in search for their laird. When they entered
the empty hall, I was still unconscious amongst the rushes, while my husband
stood by the hearth waiting for them.”

Lady Esme smiled when she imparted, “My sons said that
Bowen’s rage that day was like a Viking Berserker whose bloodlust would not be
sated until he ended the life of the man who had hurt me and my daughter.”

“My children, Bowen and I left immediately to seek the
aid of the Mackenzie Clan, because it was known throughout Scotland that Laird
Alex Mackenzie had married an Englishwoman who was an extraordinary healer. The
Mackenzies and Macleods had been enemies for half a century, but Gavin knew
that his sister’s life was at stake. The injuries that Paen and I suffered were
great, but not life- threatening. Our main concern was for Eva.”

“Laying aside his pride, Gavin begged Laird Mackenzie
to allow his wife to help Eva. After explaining about William’s death, my
eldest son informed Alex that he was now Laird Macleod and that he would do
anything to establish peace amongst their clans. Laird Mackenzie never told us
why he opened the gates that day, but because he did our lives were irrevocably
changed from that moment on.”

A knock sounded at the door, startling the three
women. Ella’s torso had been wrapped and she now sat by the fire wearing a knee
length, sleeveless shift.

Before opening the door, Maeve covered her with one of
Gavin’s robes, and then laughed at how large it was on her small frame. Ella in
turn, blushed fiercely.

Servants bustled in with food, wine and water, then
removed the tub afore they took their leave.

Lady Esme smiled when she returned to her seat by the
hearth and noticed Ella’s young, bright eyes looking up at her with eagerness.

“Ye must eat, while I comb yer hair. If ye would like,
I will tell ye the rest.”

Ella nodded.